What exactly is Addiction/Dependency? The causes of this?

Everyone has an opinion on addiction including me but this article focuses on the medical classifications of what an addiction is and the difference between habitual and addictive behavior.

What exactly is Addiction? The causes of Addiction?

People who have a dependency don't have control over what they're doing, taking or using. Their dependence may reach a stage where it's not harmless. Dependencies do not only contain physical things we have, like drugs or booze, but may contain almost anything, such intangible matters as gaming to apparently innocuous products, like chocolate - in other words, dependency may reference a material dependency (e.g. drug addiction) or behavioral addiction (e.g. gaming).


This post focuses primarily on habit to materials that are physically real.

Before dependence used to refer only to psychoactive substances that cross the blood-brain barrier, briefly changing the brain's chemical balance; this would contain tobacco, alcohol and a number of drugs.

When addicted to something one becomes dependent on it to handle daily life, and control how they use it.

A habit may eventually grow into an addiction

Many people participate in tasks including heavy drug use or drinking excessively for long periods with no major issues. It seems some can use substances in recreational situations and when they choose! Lucky bastards :)

What's the difference between an addiction and a habit?

• Dependence/Addiction - there's an emotional/physical element; the individual is not able to command the facets of the habit without help due to the physical or mental states entailed (primarily the withdrawal period).

• Habit - it's done by choice. The man with the habit will later cease if they would like to, and can select to cease. The emotional/physical part does not cause the same issue in the habitual user.

So its as basic as this: With the dependency you aren't in control of your selections when with a habit you're in control of your selections. That could be a noble peace prize winning statement folks!

What causes dependency fluctuate greatly, and aren't often completely comprehended. They're usually resulting from mixture of circumstantial, physical, mental and psychological variables.

Dependence, frequently called addiction frequently results in endurance - the hooked individual needs more usual and bigger quantities so that you can get the exact same effect of whatever they're addicted to. Frequently, the first benefit or enjoyment is not still felt, because withdrawal is so rough and the habit continues. Most addicts I speak to are chasing away the pain of yesterdays using. Catch 22!

Based on the Medical Dictionary of Medilexicon:

Dependency or Addiction is Obsessive physiologic or emotional dependency on a material or practice which is beyond voluntary control. Withdrawal due to the sudden cessation of the use of a drug in a dependent (even mild) human has many meanings, among which is always a mental or physical down side.

Material (substance) dependency is When a person persists despite difficulties associated with use of alcohol or other drugs, material addiction may be diagnosed.

Prescription drugs may be included by dependence

Prescription drug dependence has become a serious public health issue in many other countries and America. Doctors seem over zealous to repeat prescriptions and the pharmaceutical companies are only to happy to supply and create new drugs for one to become addicted to. Prescription drugs give detox clinics the hardest job due to the complex nature of the substances.

The scientists described that pain is today treated by physicians differently than they used to years past. This change has resulted in a rise in prescription drug misuse.

In America in the 1990s - the decade - policy was changed in diagnosis & medication. Pain became the fifth vital sign physicians looked out for, as well as body temperature, respiratory rate, blood pressure and pulse rate. This essentially sky-rocketed an addiction nightmare the world (Western) is now facing. The alarming bit about prescription drugs is the estimation that over 65% are unaware they are physically addicted to the substance and believe the pain they feel is still related to the initial prescription. So Mrs Blogs has a terrible headache and is given Tramadol. It works but when wearing off she is having withdrawals from the opiates. Due to this not being made very clear she believes this is her headache returning and takes more - 18 years later her prescription is the same.... thus the cycle continues leaving a trail of destruction, confusion and fat pockets (for the dealers pharmaceutical companies).

This article was taken from the Home Detox UK website.